Cloth feed for case-making machines



Feb, 5', 1929. 1,701,257

E. w. CLARK ET AL CLOTH FEED FOR CASE MAKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet l -/m/e/7/0/ar Q MW Feb. 5, 1929.. 1,701,257

E. w. CLARK ET AL CLOTH FEED FOR CASE MAKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1926 e Sheets-Sheet 2 Mil! Illlllllfl gwve'ntom E. w. CLARK ET AL CLOTH FEED FOR CASE MAKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 6'56 4. W Mfim alICoz 11 eg- Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,257

- E. w. CLARK ET AL r CLOTH FEED FOR CASEWAKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1926 6 heets-Sheet 5 Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,257

E. w. CLARK ET AL CLOTH FEED FOR CASE MAKING MACHINES Filed Nov. 19, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lnveniozj I 61mm! Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT, OFFICE.

ERNEST W. CLARKJOF HARTFORD, AND CARLISCHRAMM, OF WEST HARTFORD, CON- NECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE SMY TH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HART- FORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

CLOTH FEED r03 CASE-MAKING MACHINES.

. Application filed November 19, 1926. Serial No. 149,438.-

This invention relates to mechanism for 513.453 January 23, 1894, No. 580,111 April 6, 1897, and No. 661,763 November 13, 1900.

In machines of this class a sheet of cloth, of the correct size to form the outside cover of a book case, is fed to a receiving cylinder which carries it around past means that apply glue to. one surface in the proper localities, and then presents the sheet to a carrier which draws it over a movable platform. While the sheet is on the platform a backlining and two stiffening boards are transferred from stacks and placed upon the glued surface. Following this the, edges of the cloth are folded over the edges of the hack-lining and stiffening boards.

The object of the present invention is to provide a compartively simple and easy operating mechanism that can be readily applied to machines of the character referred to,

which mechanism will surely separate and.

rapidly remove the top sheet of cloth from a pile of sheets and deliver it to the cylinder in the correct position to be firmly gripped andcarried past the gluing means and then presented to thecarrier which takes the sheet to the folding platform. A V q p In attaining this object a table adapted to support apile of sheets of'cloth cut tothe proper size, is movably attached to the frame of the machine. Means are provided to properly locate and retain the sheets on the table, and mechanism is arranged to elevate the table as the sheets are withdrawn from the top of the pile. Pneumatic pickers or sheet separators are provided for sucking up and grasping the front edge ofthe top sheet of cloth on the pile, and mechanism is arranged to oscillate these separators after they have taken hold of the edge of the sheet and carry that edge into position to be gripped by the fingers of the receiving cylinder. When the sheet reaches its position on the cylinder a leveler bar, which is mounted to oscillate with the pneumatic separators, isbrought down in- 7 section showing that supports the pile of cloth sheets.

9 is a section showing the position of the eledependently of the movement of the sepa rators so as to smooth the cloth on the cylinder and hold it flat until the fingers on the cylinder have securely gripped its edge and the suctional grasp of the separators has been broken. After the separators-have released the sheet to the cylinder the separators and leveler bar are oscillated back for another' sheet of cloth. An electrical stop mechanism 'is arranged to be set into action and stop the machine should the feed fail to deliver a.

sheet of cloth to the cylinder. The several elements and operating mechanisms are pro shape and the sheets of cloth must corre-, j

spondingly vary.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feed mechanism and the front end of a book case-making machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing one of the cams provided for swinging the sheet separator and the cloth leveling means back and forth between the pile of sheets on the table and the receiving-cylinder, and alsofor elevating the table. Fig. 3 is'a similar view of the cam provided for swinging the cloth separating means toward the pile ofsheets on th e table;

"when a sheet is to beseparated from the pile,

and toward the receiving cylinder when the sheet is to be delivered. F1g. 4t isa view of the'cani and valve that controls the suction at the mouths of the sheet separator. Fig.5 shows an elevation of the front end of the machine and the mechanism for operating the feed, with the table sheet separator and cloth leveling means removed. Fig. 6 is a central the operating mechanisms. Fig. 7' is an elevation showing the front of the table with a pile of cloth sheets thereon.

Fig. 8 on larger scale shows a top view of the feed mechanism and a portion of the table ments when the edge of a sheet ofcloth is being delivered to the receiving cylinder, and

Fig. 7

the contacts which engage and close the electric stop mechanism circuit if the separator fails to deliver a sheet of cloth to the cylinder. Fig. 10 is a section showing the sheet separator about to pick up the edge of a cloth sheet from the pile on the table. Fig. 11 is a detailed section of one of the sheet separator suckers. Fig. 12 is a side elevation showing a portion of the table elevating mechanism. Fig. 13 is a detail section of the electrical terminals that contact to close the circuit and stop the machine if a sheet of cloth is not fed to the receiving cylinder, also if a sheet is not grasped by the carrier fingers.

The machine shown in the drawings is of the type disclosed in the patents above referred to, and it has supported by the side Walls 1. of the frame a cam shaft 2 provided with a gear 3. Engaging with this gear is a pinion 4; on an arbor 5 that has a gear 6 in mesh with the pinion 7 on the shaft 8 to which the driving pulley 9 is adapted to be connected by the clutch 10 (Figs 5, 6). Fastene'd to the cam shaft is a cam 11 designed to oscillate the lever 12. This lever at its lower end is pivotally connected to the frame and at the upper end it has a segmental rack 13 engaging a pinion 1% that is fastened to a shaft 15 which carries the receiving cylin-- der 16 (Figs. 1, 5). Nearone end the receiving cylinder shaft has a gear 17 which engages a gear segment 18 on the shaft of the glue applying roll 20. The glue roll turns in a glue reservoir 21 that is kept at the desired temperaturc'bythe usual means, for instance a steam or hot water tank 522 (Fig. 6). At each end the receiving cylinder shaft has a gear 23 that meshes with a gear 2% fastened to a pulley 25 (Figs. 5, G). The belts 26 which pass around these pulleys are connected' with. the sliding carrier 27, the fingers 270, 271 of which rasp the edges of'the glued sheets and draw them from the cylinders to over the folding. platform 28 (Figs. 6, 13).

' This mechanism imparts the rotatory-oscillating movements to the cylinder which re-.

ceives the cloth sheets, carries them around into contact with theoscillatory glue roll and then delivers them to the carrier that draws them over the folding platform. The above described mechanisms and actions are wellknown, being common to the prior machines built under the atents before mentioned and therefore need no further detail explanation.

The table for supporting the cloth also the oscillatory pneumatic sheet separators and the cloth leveling means, which comprise the. general features of the improved feed mechanism that en'ibodies this invention, are mounted on brackets 29 which are fastened to the tops of the side walls of the frame at the front end of the machine (Figs. 1, 8). An angle lever 30 is pivoted by a stud 31 to the lower end of the sheets bracket on each side of the frame, and

clamped in the upper ends of these levers is,

a tubular shaft 32. The lower ends of these levers are connected by links 33 with angle levers 3d pivotally mounted on brackets 35 attached to the side Walls of the frame at the lower part of the front end. The levers 3a are engaged by cams 36 fixed to a shaft 37 and they are held in engagement with the cams by springs 38 connected between the side walls of the frame and the links (Figs. 1, 2, 5). The shaft 37 has a gear 39 that is adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the shaft by a clutch 40 (Figs. 5, 6). This gear is engaged by a pinion ll on an arbor 4-2 which has a gear 418 meshing with the pinion l on the arbor 5 (F igs. 5, 6). By this mechanism the upper ends of the levers 30 and the tubular shaft 32 which they carry are, at the proper times, swung back and forth. I

Loosely fitted on the shaft 32 so as to swing back and forth therewith but be capable of independent oscillation thereon are arms'd. Clamped in the free ends of these arms is the separator bar as and clamped on the separator bar at intervals, which may bevaried when the clamps are loosened, are arms 46 (Figs. 8, 10). Blocks 47 are fitted in slots in these arms 46 and are loosely retained therein by pins 8 so that theymay have a little up and down movement independent of the arms. In the recessed underside of these blocks are downwardly opening cups l9 which are held in place by the heads 50 of tubular nipples 51 (Fig. 11). These nipples are connected by flexible tubes 52 with nipples 53 threaded into the tubular shaft- (Fig. 10). A flexible tube 54 leads from one end of the shaft 32 to any common means for exhausting air therefrom, as an exhaust pump 55 (Fig. 4-). An oscillatory tubular valve 56 is arranged in this connection between the shaft and the pump, an end of the tube 54- being connected to one side ofthe valve and the pump being connected with other side. The valve stem 57 is connected with a lever 58 that is adapted to be a ainst the cam b 1 a s rin 60.

a w P 1:

'lhe sucker bar of thls pneumatic sheet Ill) separator is oscillated by the cams 36 and the intermediate connections described so as to carry the cups back and forth between the edge of the pile of sheets to be fed, the position illustrated in Fig. 10, and the surface of the receiving cylinder, the position illustrated in Fig. 9, and the cam 59 is so timed that the valve will operate to cause a suction through the mouths of the suckers from the time that they are over the sheets until they are over the receiving cylinder, that is, from the time that the suckers pick up and carry the top sheet of the pile to the position in which the edge of the sheet is grasped by the fingers 61 that clamp it to the receiving cylinder (Figs. 9, 10).

One of theswinging arms44 on the shaft 32 has a projecting stem 62 through which passes a rod 63, a spring 64 being arranged between the end of the stemand nuts 65 on the endof the rod, for the purpose of cushioning the connection (Figs. 8, 12). The lower end of this red is connectedwith a lever 66 pivoted to an extension of the bracket 35. Connected with this lever is a rocker arm 67 that is adapted to be engaged by a cam 68 on the shaft 37. A spring 69 connected between the frame and lever holds the rocker arm in engagement with the cam, (Figs. '1, 8, 5). This cam is so timed that through the connections mentioned the suckers, when over the pile are brought down against the top sheet, then allowed to rise and lift the edge'of the sheet, and after the sheet has been carried by them over to the receiving cylinder are again brought down for depositing the edge of the sheet on the cylinder. The'suckers being somewhat loosely held in these arms, conform closely to the surfaces against which they are drawn down by this cam and the pull of the cam is cushion-ed by the spring 64, as

above stated.

Loosely fitted on the shaft 32 so as to swing back and forth therewith but be capable of independent oscillation thereon are arms 70. The outer ends of these arms carry a bar 71 that is designed to level or smooth the edge of the cloth down fiatupon the receiving cylinder (Fig. 8), so it will surely be grasped by the fingers 61. This baris notched so that it will not interfere with the action of the" fingers that grip the edge of the cloth to the cylinder. The leveler bar is normally held raised by springs 72 which are connected between itand fingers 73 that are clamped on the shaft 32 (Figs. 8, 9). separator bar 45' and the leveler bar 71 are swung over to carry a sheet to the cylinder rolls 7 4 attached to the ends of the arms engage with cam wedges 75 fixedto the frame, and cause the levelerfbar to be pushed down in such manner as to press the edge of the sheet upon the receiving cylindeiz, As the separator bar and leveler'bars swing back and the rolls 74 clear the earns 75, the springs The separator bar 4-5 extends through the arms 70 and to 72 again lift the leveler bar.

permit the independent movements of the separator bar and the leveler bar, the arms 70 are provided with slots 76 through which the separator bar passes (Figs. 8, 9).

The cloth sheets 77 to be fed are placed in a pile on the table 78 and are located in exact position by a front positioning guide -7 9' and side positioning guide 80 at each forward corner. beneath, yielding retaining fingers 81, (Fig. 8). Each pair of'these' guides is fastened in width of the sheets.

When thesheet These corners of the sheets extend place by a bolt 82 which fits a groove 83 in a supporting plate 84' that extends across the frame and is attached to the brackets 29 (Figs. 6, 7).

When these fastening means are loosened the guides may be adjusted toward or from each other for properly posithat the plates may,a s hereinafter mentioned,

be adjusted transversely of the table and lie under the pile of sheets beneath the locality where the separating suckers are brought down on the top sheet (Figs. 8, 10). These plates may be notched as at 119.. (Fig. 8) and fitted to the edges of the side guides 80 so thatthey will be adjusted transversely with the side and front guides withoutinterfering, with the vertical movement of the table.

The outer edges of the sheets in the pileare held down by the weight of rolls 85. Each of these rolls is mounted on a pin 86 that is adjustably clamped to a rod 87. These rods are pivotally connected with the upper ends 1, 7). The arms 88 are adjusted along the posts 89 so as to position the rolls near the 'outer edges of the sheets, and the rolls are adjusted along the rods 87 according to the WVhen a pile of sheets is to be placed on the table the rods 87 are swung over to each side so as to carry the rolls out of the way.

The table, carrying thejplates 114, is raised and lowered by screws 90 which are threaded through the table near each side, the upper ends of thescrews being supported by brackets-91 attached tothe brackets 29 and the lower ends of the screws being supported by abar 92 that extends across beneath the table between the'brackets 29, Attached to, the lower end of each screw is a. worm gear 93. These gears are engaged by worm' gears 94 fastened to a shaft 95 that extends across beneath the table and that is supported by the brackets 29 (Figs. 6, 7).

Fastened on oneend of the shaft 95 outside of the frame is a pinion 96 that meshes with a'gear 97 on a The upper end ofthis plate is provided with a-stud 103 which is normally held in engagement with the pin 104 by the pull of the spring 105 that is connected between the bracket and a stud. 106 projecting from the plate. The pin 104 is normally pressed down by a spring" 1060 and is adaptedto be raised 9 by the lever 107 which engages a grooved collar 108 at the upper end of the pin. When the pin is raised the stud 103 slips off from the end of the pin and the spring causes the plate to turn so as to retract the ratchet into engagement with following teeth. The lever 107 at the end opposite the pin carries a screw 109. This screw is adjusted so as to be engaged by a stud 110 that extends downward from the stem 62 which projects from the sheet separator arm 14. By this means, when the sheet separator is swung back if it is drawn down suiiiciently far, as when the pile is decreasing in height by removal. of sheets therefrom, the stud 110 engages the screw 109 and the pawl is retracted over the ratchet wheel, (Fig. 12).

A screw stud 111 projects outward. from the pawl plate 102 through a slot 112 in the link 113 that is pivoted to the adjacent lever 30 (Fig. 1). If the pile of sheets is so high that the pin 10 i holds the pawl plate from retracting the pawl, the link moves idly back and forth on the screw stud as the lever oscillates. However, when the height of the pile of sheets decreases sufliciently to cause the retraction of the pawl, as above described, the wall at the outer end of the slot in the link engages the screw stud and pulls the plate so that the pawl will advance the ratchet wheel and through the gears and screws elevate the table. As the pawl plate is pulled forward its inclined end 116 lifts and passes under the pin 10-1 12). A crank 117 may be fasten-ed to the ratchet wheel 99 for elevating or lowering the table by hand (Fig. 1). By this means the top sheet of cloth is always high enough to be reached and picked up by the sheet separator.

For the purpose of stopping the feed mechanism should it fail to deliver a sheet of cloth to the receiving cylinder and also if the carrier fingers fail to grip a. sheet, an electrical control mechanism is arranged to disconnect the clutch 10 that connects the pulley 9 to the driving shaft 8 (Figs. 5, 13). To accomplish this the clutch cone 120 is engaged by one end of an angle lever 121. The upper end of a rod 122 is connected with the other end of this lever and the lower end of the rod is engaged by a treadle 123. When the treadle is depressed the rodis raised and the lever forces the cone in and causes the engagement of the clutch, which may be of any common type. A spring 124; is arranged to draw the rod down and cause the disengagement of the clutch. The rod is held raised and the clutch engaged by any suitable trip mechanism, that illustrated having alatch 125 arranged to be held in engagement with a collar 126 fastened to the rod, by a spring 127. The latch is adapted to be released. from the collar by the pull. of an electromagnet 128. One terminal of the magnet coil is connected by awire 129 with a conducting block 130 that is mounted on but insulated from a tubular rod 131 which extends across the frame and is supported by the brackets 132 to which the fixed cams are secured. The other terminal of the magnet coil is connected by a wire 133 with a source of electrical energy, indicated in the drawings as a battery 13%, that is grounded on the machine frame. These connections are diagrammatically illustrated on Fig. 5, but as a matter of construction, however, in the mechanism as built, the wire 129 leads into one end of the tubular shaft 131 as shown in 8 and out through a hole in the shaft to the block 130 as shown in Fig. 18. When the treadle is depressed the clutch is engaged and held engaged by the trip mechanism. When the trip mechanism is energized, so that the latch releases the rod, the spring 124 causes the disengagement of the clutch.

Mounted on but insulated from the leveler bar 71 is a conducting block 135 which carri-s conducting plunger-s 136 and 137 (Figs. 5, its the follower bar swings forward plunger 1% contacts with the block 130. illustrated in Fig. 9, there is a sheetof tb on the receiving cylinder 16 the plunge 13'? is insulated therefrom and the electrical circuit remains open. Should there be no cloth on the cylinder as illustrated in Fig. 13 the plunger 137 contacts with the cylinder and ch res the circuit which causes the trip to release l driving shaft- Extending forward from the block 130 are conducting brushes 138. Fastened on but insul atcd from the rod 139 to which the movable an. if, clo

lingers 271 on the carrier 27 are attached,

all of the elements of the feed coordinate with each other and with the other elements of the machine. The oscillatory separator swings over and is lnrought down upon the pile of sheets on the table and after grasping by suction the edge of the top sheet, lifts that sheet from the pile and draws it over and delivers it to the receiving cylinder. The oscillatory lever bar swinging with but having a downward movement independent of the snect separator presses the edge of the sheet thus delivered down upon the receiving cylinder and holds it smooth so that it will be gripped by the lingers and held to the cylinder while the cylinder carries it around over the glue-applying roll. The sheet when glued is delivered to the carrier, the fingers of which grasp the edge of the sheet and draw it over the folding platform. As the pile of is clutch between the pulley and the ion sheets on the table is diminished by the removal of the top sheet the elevating mechanismis brought into action so as to raise the table and keep the top sheet at the proper hei ht to be surely grasped by the sheet sepa rator. Should the mechanism fail to feed a sheet to the receiving cylinder, or should the carrier fail to receive a sheet from the, cylinder the electrical contacts are closed, as described, and the machine is stopped.

The invention claimed is:

1. 'Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth'to the receiving cylinder of a book case-making machine, said mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory sheet separators, means for causing a suction at the mouth of said separators, mechanism for oscillating said'separators from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on said support to the surface of said cylinder and means co-acting with the separators for smoothing the cloth upon the surface of said receiving cylinder.

2. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth .to the receiving cylinder of a book case-making machine, said mechanism comprising means for supportmg a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory sheet separators, means for' causing a suction at the mouths of said separators, mechanism for oscillating said separators from the edge'of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on said support to the surface of said'cylinder, and cloth leveling means mounted to oscillate toward and from the surfaceof said cylinder. I v

V 3. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth to the receiving cylinder of a book case-making machine, said mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory sheet separators, means for causing a suction at, the mouths of said separators, mechanism for oscillating said separators from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on said support to the surfaceof said cylinder, cloth leveling means mounted to oscillate with said separators toward and from said cylinder,'and means for reciprocating said leveling means toward and from the cylinder independently of the separators wlth which they oscillate. I I

4. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth to the receiving cylinder of a book casemaking machine, said mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth,

oscillatory sheet separators, means for causing a suction at the mouth of said separators, mechanism for oscillatingsaid separators from the edge of the topsheet of a pile of cloth sheets on said support to the surface of said cylinder, a leveling bar mounted to oscillate with said separators, and means whereby said bar is capable of movement toa ward and from the cylinder independently of the separators withwhich it oscillates.

' 5. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth? to the receiving cylinder of a book casemaking machine, said'mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of'cloth, oscillatory sheet separatoi's,1neans for causing a suction at the'mouths of said separators, mechanism for oscillating said separators from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on said support to the surface of said cylinder, a leveling bar mounted to oscillate with said separators, and fixed cams adapted to engage and move said bar toward the cylinder ndependently of the separators with which it oscillates.

6. Mechanism for feeding, sheets of cloth 'to' the receiving cylinder vof a hook casemaking machine, said mechanism comprising a table movably attached to the frame of the machine for supporting a pile of sheetsof cloth, mechanism for autom aticallyelevating said table as sheets are removed therefrom, oscillatory sheet separators, means for caus ing a suction atthe mouths of said separators,

' mechanism for oscillating said separators from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on the table tothe surface of said cylinder, cloth leveling means, and mechanism for oscillatingsaid leveling means to ward and from the cylinder.

7 Mechanism for feeding sheetsof cloth to the receiving cylinder of a book case-making machine,said mechanism comprising a table for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, ad-

justable means for positioning and retaining sheets of cloth on the table, oscillatory sheet separators, means for causing a suction at the mouths of said separators, mechanism for oscillating said separators from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on the leveling means mounted to oscillate with said separators, and means for moving said leveling means toward andffrom the cylinder independently of oscillates. V 1 g 8. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth to machine,said mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory sheet separators, means for causing a from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of table to the surface of said cylinder, cloth the separators-with which 7 the receiving cylinder of a book case-making I 9. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth to i cloth sheets on the table to the surface of said cylinder, and an electrical Conductor movable with the separators and adapted to contact with said cylinder and stop the ma chine if the separators fail to carry a sheet from the pile to the cylinder.

10. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth 7 t the receiving cylinder of a book case-making machine, said mechanism con'iprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory levers, mechanism for oscillating said levers, a shaft connecting the swinging ends of said levers, a pair of arms pivoted 011 and movable with said shaft, pneumatic pickers supported by said arms and adapted to be carried from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on said support to the surface of said cylinder, a pair of arms pivoted on and movable with said shaft, a leveling bar supported by said latter arms and oscillating with said pickers, and cams and springs for reciprocating said bar toward and from the cylinder independently of the movement of said pickers.

11. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth to the receiving cylinder of a book casemaking machine, said mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory levers, mechanism for oscillating said levers, a tubular shaft connecting the swinging ends of said levers, means for withdrawing air from said shaft, a pair of arms mounted 011 and movable with said shaft, a hollow bar carrying pneumatic pickers supported by said arms, and a tubular connection between said shaft and the picker bar.

l2. hfechanism for feeding sheets of cloth to the receiving cylinder of a book casemaking machine, said mechanism comprising means for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory levers, mechanism for oscillating said. levers, a tubular shaft connecting the swinging ends of said levers, means for withdrawing air from said shaft, a pair of arms mounted on and movable with sa d shaft, a

hollow bar carrying pneumatic pickers supported by said arms, a tubular connection between said shaft and the picker bar, a pair of arms mounted on and movable with said shaft, a leveling bar supported by said latter arms and oscillating with said pickers, and cams and springs for reciprocating said bar toward and from the cylinder independently of the movement of said pickers.

13. Mechanism for feeding sheets of cloth to the receiving cylinder of a book cascmaking machine, said mechanism comprising a table movably attached to the frame of the machine for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, mechanism for automatically elevating said table as sheets are removed therefrom, laterally adjustable guides for positioning sheets of cloth on the table, plates movable with the table and adjustable with said guides, oscillatory sheet separators, means for causing a suction vat the mouths of said separators, and mechanism for oscillating said separators from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on the table to the surface of said cylinder.

14. Mechanism for feedin sheets of cloth to the receiving cylinder of a. book casemaking machine, said mechanism comprising a table movably attachedto the frame of the machine for supporting a pile of sheets of cloth, oscillatory sheet separators, means for causing a suction at the mouths of said separators, levers for oscillating said separators from the edge of the top sheet of a pile of cloth sheets on the table to the surfaceof said cylinder, screws and gears for elevating the table as the pile of sheets diminishes, a ratchet wheel and pawl for turning said gears and screws, a spring for retracting said pawl, a trip for holding said pawl advanced, means actuated by the separators for retracting the trip asthe pile diminishes, and means connected with one of said levers for advancing the pawl. V I ERNEST W. CLARK;

CARL SOHRAMM. 

